Edited release
10/01/26
Over 400 people gathered Wednesday at First United Methodist Church alongside Fatou Traore’s family to demand her release from ICE detention and an immediate halt to her threatened deportation to Sierra Leone, a country she has never known.
The rally was moved from the Ped Mall stage due to threatening weather.
Local advocacy group Escucha Mi Voz reported in an e-mail that following pressure from Fatou’s family, immigrant leaders, clergy, and community members, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks sent a letter to – and personally called – Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting a stay of deportation and Fatou’s return to her family.
The letter said in part, “Deporting Fatou would deprive a young family of their mother and would violate the withholding of removal order, which allows Fatou to work and reside in the United States legally.”
Fatou’s family, Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, and Immigrant Welcome Network members welcomed the intervention but demanded an urgent meeting between Rep. Miller-Meeks, Rep. Ashley Hinson, and Fatou’s family to secure concrete action.
Traore,is an Iowa City resident originally from Ivory Coast, and has lived here for more than 20 years. She received withholding of removal to Ivory Coast in 2011. ICE detained her September 24 and transferred her to Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana.
Escucha Mi Voz, Traore’s family, and Immigrant Welcome Network members say they will visit Rep. Miller-Meeks office in Davenport on Friday at 11am if their demand for an in-person meeting is not met.